Dubai Festival City welcomes its first residents

Gathering in the Al Badia show apartment, the new residents were asked why they chose the new homes over some of the more established areas of Dubai.

"The location, layout and design of the development are what impressed me the most. I've seen many rental properties in the area and nothing compares to the Al Badia home," said Benny Wong, one of the first residents to move into the community.

"I'm fairly new to Dubai so would rather rent than buy. The fact that it's the only rental alternative on a golf course is also a huge advantage for me because I love the game," he added.

The unique development's first phase showcases a selection of 2, 3 and 4 bedrooms units on Al Badia's hillside terrace. The initial offering comprises 11 three and four bedroom town houses, all with their own private walled gardens, 43 apartments and 10 terraced properties.

"We visited the show homes once and knew that this was exactly where we wanted to live. It's a good place for kids - safe, with plenty of landscaped areas," said Francois Marcade and who moved into Al Badia with his wife Alda.

Attention has now turned to planning over 120 units of the second phase of Al Badia homes, which should be ready late 2005.

It will comprise a unique mix of entertainment, dining, shopping, edutainment, sport and leisure facilities, automotive dealerships, hotels, a marina, residential and office components.

The first phase of construction is underway with The Al Badia Golf Resort, an 18-hole championship golf course designed by world-renowned golf course designer Robert Trent Jones II LLC, surrounded by Mediterranean style apartments and town homes, set to open in late 2004.

Its centreplace Festival Centre, the 1,900,000 square foot retail, dining and entertainment centre, set on a Creekside marina, is also under construction. Foundation work will also soon start on the InterContinental Dubai Festival City, an iconic convention hotel situated on the north-west peninsula of the marina.

The recently announced Four Seasons Hotel Dubai is the latest addition to Dubai Festival City. With an initial development cost estimated at Dhs. 700 Million, the Four Seasons Hotel Dubai will have 250 rooms and villas, a destination spa, five restaurants and a range of conference and banqueting facilities. The hotel is scheduled to open at the end of 2006.

Groundbreaking has begun for the first two community schools at Dubai Festival City; of which one will follow the American curriculum and the second the British curriculum. The two schools will be operated by Educational Services Overseas Ltd. (ESOL), and school facilities will include a media centre, science and computer labs, studios, music and lecture halls, playgrounds, swimming pools and prayer rooms. Each school will also have extensive playgrounds and a running track.